Hi Charm...first, I agree with you...10 days sure does seem long. I know you can do it:)

I love to play puzzle games. My fiancee bought me a Nintendo DS with a game I love called Cradle of Rome. It's a game that you match 3 of a kind (not cards, same kind of tile) then they fall and you have to clear the board. That kept me and keeps me very busy. I would HIGHLY suggest this. The battery lasts a LONG time and it is small, light and easy to carry and use.

If you have a laptop I think that is good too. Everyone is different and your doctor may think you can't but you can surprise them. I work in customer service and I NEVER say I can't do something. Who care what we can't do..it's what you can do.

I'm sure we will chat before you go in but if not...GOOD LUCK!! I cannot wait to hear how it all went. I will be thinking of you and wishing nothing but good things for you. Will you let us know what time your surgery is for? My guess is you won't find out until Tuesday.

(((((HUGS))))))

Well, you won't need much in ICU, I had a marker board to communicate and basically if I wasn't sleeping I would watch a few minutes of tv. When I moved out of ICU to RCU I had books, coloring books, my computer, magazines, etc. Get a lap desk for your computer. It has a soft underside and a hard top. You can get them from barnes and noble or off amazon. My mom would turn on the tv every time she was in the room and she would put it on HGTV and to this day, almost a year later I can't watch HGTV. I got really bored toward the end of my 11 day stay, so good luck staying entertained! Go on a lot of walks while you are in there. That was a good bit of entertainment.

I like to have cushy pillows for under my arm and head. The best are the roll type filled with the same beads used in Beanie Babies. They really cusion arms with IV tubes and can be used in the back or anywhere you need some cushioning. I would recommend reading material in small, lightweight format (Reder's digest vs. large magazines or heavy books) and short articles or stories. It is very hard to concentrate for long at first. I probably would have thrown something at anyone who turned on the TV - there is enough noise in the hospital. I bought a wipe off board and made a printed list of possible requests before my recent surgery and used neither. The board was cumbersom and the list was never what I needed to say until I was able to speak anfd then I did't need it. Index cards worked best. Click pens with clips are a necessity. I had a hard clipcoard with an outside clamp for paper and kept extra pens, index cards, lists of phone numbers and papers inside. It was a good prop for puzzle books, magazines and reading material.
If possible, try to have someone with you for meal time once you are able to eat and for doctor rounds.
I treated myself to a thick cushy, long dark kimono which was great for when I got rid of the IV tubes and could sit up and move around. I almost forgot that I was wearing hospital gowns underneath.
Most important - bring a sense of humor and remember to greet everyone with a smile - even if you are in agony.

Charm,

I spent 9 days in the hospital for severe dehydration and that's where I finished my last several days of tx. TV, magazines and morphine put directly into my arm was the best.

I'm not going to lie, I might have enjoyed it too much...the morphine that is..I also liked having visitors, even though I couldn't talk.

THANK YOU ALL this post is my very first one on my brand new laptop using the free wireless link - not secure but I have no real secrets to steal on this.
I have to practice with this stupid VISTA so will be signing off (plus need to learn how to use this webcam that came with it) I could not resist this best buy deal of an ACER aspire 5515 with 3 GB memory and 160 gb hd and cd/dvd plus wireless with high def 15.6 inch screen and free case and free wireless microsoft mouse for $399 (especially since my sister insisted on buying it so I email her from the hospital and use the webcam so she can see me as she needs to get back to work in san francisco so she leaves tomorrow) I am so blessed with family love. Now to sit with her and the wife while they critique the fashions on the academy awards.
again, thank you all for the responses.

Have fun with Vista. Sometimes it's like learning to drive in reverse at 80 mph but eventually you'll get it.